Leader bar aligning control



. April J. G. JONES EIAL LEADER BAR ALIGNING CONTROL 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 28, 1939 JONES COLM P. DAVIS INVENTORJ A TTORNE YS JOHN 6'. ML

4%? BY I April 1941 J. G. JONES EI'AL LEADER BARALIGNING CONTROL I Filed Oct. 2 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 JO 0. JONES M4110 OLMP. DAVIS I INVENTORS Mg, w

ATTORNEYS A ril 14, 1942. .1. e. JONES ETAL 2,279,467

LEADER BAR ALIGNING CONTROL Filed 001;. 28, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGJJ.

-.6I 1 I I 67. I :2 R J E Li? f 5- f FIGJ4A w I aw; we? JOHNGIJONES A NALZ'OLMBZMWS INVENTORS ATTORNEYS April 14, 1942. JONES ETAE 2,279,467

LEADER BAR ALIGNING CONTROL .Filed on. 28, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.15.

- 3 I s:] I 4.7

. JOI-EV G'.JONES mLcoLMP gAws INVE' pRs Patented Apr. 14, 1942 LEADERBHR ALIGNING CONTROL John G. Jones and Malcolm 1. Davis, Rochester, N. Y., 'assignors to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y.,a corporation of New Jersey Application October 28, 1939, ScrialiNo.-'30 1;854

EDhis invention relate to machines employing -leader bars propelled by belts through a bath to loop istrip material about a plurality of suppontingroller's.

One object of our invention is to provide. a means .for aligning the leader bar, if it should :startto grip on one belt relative to the other belt zinlpassing through the "machine. Another object of our invention is to provide a device which will insure the proper operation of a double jawed leader bar transferring the grip from one .set of :jaws to another as the leader bar passes from one set "of belts to another. Another object of our invention is to provide a leader bar restrainfing mechanism which will tend to hold back on "one end 'of the leader bar, if it should be progressing through the machine in advance of the other end of the leader bar. Still another-object of our invention is to provide a means for prop- :erly positioning the leader bar, :so that 'both ends of the leader bar may be :simultaneouslyraised by an elevating mechanism at -a transfer station, and-other objects will appear irom'the:following specification, the novel features being particularlyzporinted out in the claims :at the end thereof.

In leading long strips of material through -a zma'chine for threading the f'material ab'outia plu- -rality of loops supported loy rollers, b'e'lts have been used, passing through approximately the :same path as the material, these belts being .r.

adapted to convey leader bars resiliently attached to the strip-material through :the proper -.path for la-kneading. In machines-of considerable length, it has been tound'expedient to provide a number-of different sections where the various treatments to 'the strip material may take place, and 'to provide each section with a :pair of parallel belts :spaced apart and passing through approximately the path that the strip material :isto follow.

Where two-sections of the machine may conre'tc- .get-her, :the belts-of one machine are made to/lie parallel :to and close to a :short run of the belts 20f the other machine. portion "of the :machine may be called a change-"over station, :be-

cause as the leader bar passes this section, the

iaws of the leader bar, which grasp one set of belts, are made to release the 'belts and =tozg'ra sp the belts :of the next machine section; During this change-over, it is necessary to provide a supplemental means which will continue toimove the leader bar, and we have called this supp-lemental means an elevator, becauseit is usually more desirable to have the belts arranged vertically, or nearly vertically at the change-over station.

.In the application of John G. Jones and Alfred C. Robertson, Serial 'No. 2723660, filed May '9, 1939, for Leader bar for threading roller :machines withstrip material, there is discussed in detail "the .jaw structure of the leader bar, and this application is for an improvement over the structure shown therein.

' Coming now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote like parts throughout:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section with a portion of a leader bar broken off showing a leader :bar and portions of a "jaw construction constructed in accordance with and embodying a preferred form of our invention, parts of this figure being shown in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary part section and part elevation showing a portion of the leader banthe section being taken at right angles to the section or Fig. land showing the same leader bar as in Fig.1; V

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view showing the jaw structure used at the ends of the leader bar,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section on line i- 1 of Fig. 3, showing the jaw construction partially in elevation and showing a portion of the leader bar in section.

Fig. 5 is an enlargedsectional view across a fixed and movable .jaw element showing the rela-tionship of these twojaws and the cam opening into which the 'jaw separator may project.

Fig. 6 is 'an enlarged fragmentary section show- 'ing the resilient gripper-surface of the movably "mounted jaw and its relationship to the fixedly mounted jaw and belt.

, Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation showing a portion of the leader bar, in section, of amachine embodying two belt systems and showing a side elevation of the change-over "mechanism.

:Fig. 9 .is an end elevation, partially in section, showing the change-over mechanism for 'a b'elt on *one side of a machine, it being understood Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12, but with the leader bar starting to move past the leader restrainer and the valve operating lever.

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic elevation showing the relationship of the dual air valve control for the elevator mechanism.

Fig. 14A is a diagrammatic view showing parts of the machine sections in elevation.

Fig. 15 is a side elevation of a clutch mechanism for operating the leader bar elevator.

Fig. 16 is a cross section on line l6l6 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a longitudinal partial section of the clutch shown in Fig.15. V

Fig. 18 is an end view, partially broken away, of the clutch mechanism.'

Referring to Fig. 11, the strip material S may have one end E looped about an auxiliary bar I, and this bar, in turn, may be attached bysuitable clips 2 and cables 3 to a leader bar 4 having belt grasping jaws designated broadly as 5 at each end for resiliently grasping a pair of belts 6. Thus, when these belts are moved through any desirable path for guiding the strip material S about a plurality of rollers B. (Fig. 14A), the leader bar 4 and the auxiliary bar 1 will draw the strip material S through the path defined by the belts 6, thus threading the strip material around the rollers R and through the several sections A and B of the machine. As many sections as desired may be employed.

The particular type of machine embodying a plurality of rollers R is not important, and since such machines are well known, they will not be more fully described herein.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noted that the strip material S, which is looped about the auxiliary bar I, may be held on the bar by means of spring clips 2, or it may be, wrapped around the bar, which is preferably rectangular in shape as shown in Fig. 7, and an end portion E may be sewed, glued or otherwise fastened to the strip material S so as to hold firmly to the auxiliary bar I.

Each of the clips 2 is attached to a cable 3, and the object of these cables is to exert an even and resilient pull on the strip material when the leader bar 4 is moved along by means of the jaws 5 and the belts 6. In order to obtain this resilient and even drag upon the auxiliary bar I, the cables 3 are trained over a series of pulleys I mounted entirely within the hollow leader bar 4, so that each of the two cables will be attached to an end 8 of a coil spring 9, the other end of which, I0, is anchored upon a shaft ll, carried by the leader bar. Thus, the spring 9 exerts equal pressure upon both of the cables 3, and any sudden movement of the leader bar 4 will cause the spring 9 to flex and gently transmit the force to the strip material S.

In order to move the leader bar 4 by means of the belts 6, the leader bar is provided at each end with a jaw structure broadly indicated at 5. This jaw structure includes a relatively fixed jaw member l2 which is attached to the end l3 of the leader bar and which is provided with elongated openings l4 and with smooth beltengaging faces [5 on each side.

Cooperating with this relatively fixed jaw is a pair of movable jaws carried in one piece l6, pivotally mounted at H upon the ends l3 of the leader bar 4, which are spaced apart a distance sufficient to permit the jaws IE to move in between the spaced ends. As indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, the pivoted member I6 carries a pair of movably mounted jaws l8, spaced to each side of the pivot I1 and so arranged that either one jaw or the other will be resiliently held against the fixed jaw member I2, by means of a spring plunger [9. This spring plunger may be pivotally attached at 20 to the jaw carrying member l6, and is preferably mounted to slide in a bearing 2| on the oscillatable block 22, this block likewise supporting one end of a spring 23 which exerts a thrust upon the washer 24 to hold the member [6 in a set position.

As Will be obvious from this figure, the spring 23 is effective to hold either of the two jaws It in an operative position and will increase its force upon the member It as it passes a dead center across pivot I1.

Each of the jaw members It, which are movably mounted with respect to the jaw i2, carry a spacing lug 25 on the extreme outer ends, this spacing lug being adapted to engage with a smooth face [5 of the relatively fixed jaw member to hold the jaw in a definite relation thereto. Each of the movable jaws is likewise provided with a pair of spaced lugs 25 which may engage in the apertures l4 and 28 of the relatively fixed jaw member so that they will serve as edge guides to hold the belt 6 in its proper position between one movable and the fixed jaw member.

Each of the jaws is so arranged that it will always exert a predetermined and resilient pressure upon the belt member 6. As indicated in Fig. 6, the movable jaw member l8 may include a pair of spaced side walls 29, carrying a shaft 30 arranged diagonally with respect to the fixed jaw l2 and with respect to a belt 6 lying fiat upon the fixed jaw. On this shaft there is a belt gripping member in the form of a shoe 3! which is normally thrust along the shaft by a spring 32, and by selecting the proper springs, the exact degree of pressure upon this member can be readily controlled.

With the belt moving in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig.6, it will be noted that the spring 32 contacts the shoe 3| with a surface of the belt, gripping it between the shoe and the relatively fixed jaw l2. As the belt'moves along, if a sudden force should be'applied to the belt, the shoe 3| will tend to move against the pressure of the spring 32 so that the belt is permitted to slip. We have found with this construction that the jaws may be permitted to slip all the time, with respect to the belts, and thread strip material satisfactorily, or they may be adjusted to grip the belt resiliently and move at the same speed as that of the belt while threading the strip material. In both cases it is desirable to have the resilient shoe on the movable jaw member to take care of any emergencies which may arise, such as irregularities in the belt surface, splices or the like, or to per mit the jaw members to slip in cases where the machine may be threading improperly for some reason. In any event, a force, above a certain amount, applied to the belt in excess to the possible speed of travel of the strip material will always cause the jaw members to slip.

It is understood that while we have just described a single jaw member consisting of the two movable jaws pivotally mounted on one part which may be moved relative to one-fixedly mounted jaw with two belt engaging surfaces, each leaderbar has two sets of these jaws, one at each end.

The reason for having this double movable as a commercially known device having a shell 86 freely revoluble on theshaft 85'on abushing 81. The shel'l'"8'6 has a hub extension 88, and a sprocket 89is keyed thereto, said sprocket being suitably driven by connections to a source of power as previously mentioned. Thus, the shell i86'iscontinuous1y rotating. x Keyed to the shaft 85 is a hub member 90, and a hardened rim 9I fixed thereon has'a plurality of tangentialfaces92. The outershell 86 has 'a'h'ardened-liner 93; Between the faces 92 and the liner 93 'area series of rollers I I'-held at equal spacing by fingers 94 that extend inwardly from "a flange 95. A sleeve 96, forming part of hub-member 90, carries a'collar 91 having. lugs 98" thatiextendintorecesses 99 in the sleeve. 'Coil springs I00 tendto retain the collar 91 and the flange 95 in a certainrelation, so that the rollers" I0'I are wedged between the inner face of liner 93' and the adjacent faces 92. When so -wdgedfthe whole constitutes a roller-type of clutch, and theshaft 85 will be turned by and with thesprocket 81, driving the sprocket and thus moving the chain 50 to carry the-pin 52 through its orbit to 'move the elevating bar 46.

'a-pro'jection I04 that is normally engaged by a dog I05, pivoted to the machine frame at I06. As long as the dog I05 engages the tooth I04, the hub member 90 cannot revolve, and therefore the shaft '85 andthe'chain 50"remain stationary. If the dog I05 is disengagedfrom the tooth I04, the "springs- I00 restore the parts to their initial relation, and the ro'llers'l 0| again cause the shell 8 'to'pickup the hub 90 and shaft '85.

In Fig". 16 is shown" the means employed for disengaging the dog I05.' A cylinder I01, in which is a piston I08 connected with the dog by -a plunger I09, receives air from pipe '63 whenever the valves 56 and '56 are operated. The piston is thus depressed against a spring "0, and as'soon as the dog I05 is pulled from the tooth I 04, the shaft 85 begins to revolve.

' 'If the air," which comes from the valves in a single brief shot were held inthe cylinder I01, the dog could'not return" and intercept the tooth I04. If the air 'were'permitted to escape instantly, the clutch'and shaft could make only one revolution, whereas in'some instances more than'one maybe required. "In the present design; the proportions are indicated assuch that sprocket 5I hastomake three revolutions in order to carry the pin 52 through its complete cycle. Therefore, the dog must not be allowed to return atonce under the influence of spring "I I0, butmust' be delayed until the clutch has made three revolutions. 4

'To accomplish'this delayed action, the cylinder I01-has a small exhaust port I I I, and a needle valve H2 is adjustable to completely close this 'port; if required. The valve in the present instance requires'such adjustment that so much of the air will leak out after two revolutions of the shaft 85 that the dog I05 will be raised into the path of tooth I04 between theseoond and third revolutions'after the airis admitted by valves 56 and'56', so that the shaft cannot make more than three revolutions. I 'In'o'ur' present embodiment, it will be noted from Fig. l'4tha't two air valves 56 and 56' are provided; one on'each side of the machine, and the' operation of the spring plunger 51 is only effective whenthe spring plunger 51' of the opposite air valve has been operated. v p =r 'From" Figs/12 and 13, it'will be noted that "*A disc I02, bolted at I03to the flange has adjacent the arms 6| andBI for operating the valves 56 and 56, there are a pair of leaderbar restraining mechanisms which, in the present instance, consist of a pair of similar devices which i are identical on each side of the machine and which will, therefore, only have one set of reference characters. 1

The leader restrainer may comprise an arm 15, pivoted at 16 to the frame of the machine, and carrying a. roller 11, pivoted at18'to'the arm. A stud 19 on one end of the arm 15 is attached to a spring 80,the other end of which is attached to a bar- 8| forming apart of the machine. The strength of the spring is such that when the roller 11 contacts withthe leader bar I,'it will restrain the movement of the leader bar since the spring 80 is of sufficient strength to overcome the pressure caused by'the spring 32 on the belt gripping shoe 3|. Consequently, as the leader bar moves upwardly, whichever end of the leader bar may be in advance of the opposite end, will strike the restraining roller TI and as the lever 15 is swung upon its pivot 16, the increasing resistance of the lever due to the spring 80 will slow up and, if necessary, temporarily halt the elevating mechanism so that the slides 56 will carry the leader-bar 4 upwardly through the transfer station, causing the jaws to transfer and grip from one set of belts to another.

' It should be noted that the resilient connection between the leader bar 4 and the supplementary leader bar I is such that a sudden movement of the bar 4 will not immediately betransmitted to the bar I, but the'fspring 9, through the cables 3, will resiliently transmit this motion to the end of the strip material S. In the operation of this machine, it rarely occurs that the leader bar I gets out of alignment, and in Fig. 14,we have greatly exaggerated the angle of the leader bar to better illustrate the operation of our two-valve construction; In the greatest majority of cases, the leader bar will pass through the machine at substantially right angles to the belts, but there are occasions where the strip material being led through the machine is either more resilient on one side than the other, or it may stretch. along one edge, or the jawsof one side may: slip slightly more than the jawsof the leader bar on the other. side, sothat :the leader bar actually does occasionally get out of alignment. It is particularly for these occasions that the :leader bar restraining device and the dual valve construc- 'mo'difications can be readily devised which will not depart from our'invention, as, defined in thef-ollowing claims.

--What we claim is: r 1. In a machine for handling strip material, the combination with a plurality of sections,-of a plurality of rollers in each section over whichthe strip material is looped, a pair. of: spaced belts for each section adjacent the path of strip material passing over said rollers, the belts of one section lying adjacent to the belts of another section, through a small part of their path constituting a change-over station, a leader bar having double jawsateach end for threading the strip mate-. rial about said rollers, means for operating the jaws, releasing one belt and grasping the otherbelt at parallel runs of the belts between sections, a power driven auxiliary conveyor normally'at rest and positioned adjacent the Path of the leader bar, means for operating the auxiliary power driven conveyor including two control members both lying in the path of the leader bar to be operated thereby, said power drivenconveyor being movable only when both ends of the bar are properly positioned to be engaged byv the auxiliary conveyor, in which position both control members may be operated by the leader bar for releasing the power drive of the auxiliary conveyor for moving the leader bar between the two adjacent runs of the belts at the changeover station.

2.111 a machine for handling strip material, the combination with a plurality of sections, of a plurality of rollers in-e'ach section over which the stripmaterial is looped, a-pair of spaced belts for each section adjacent the path of strip material passing over said rollers, the belts of one'section lying adjacent to the belts of another section through a small part of their path constituting a change-over station, a leader bar having double jaws at-each end for threading the strip'materialabout said rollers, means foroperating the jaws, releasing one belt and grasping-the other belt atrparallel runs of thebelts between sections, a power driven auxiliary conveye-r normally at rest and positioned adjacent the path of "the leader bar, movable control members positioned adjacent the beltson both sides of the machine and in'the path of the leader bar for operation thereby, and means operated bythe control members forreleasing the auxiliary conveyor; 7

- :3;;In"a: machine for handling strip material,

. thecombination with a plurality of sections, of

a plurality of rollers in each section overwhich the strip material is looped, a pair of spaced belts for each section adjacent the path of strip material passing over said rollers, the belts of one section lying adjacent to the belts of another section through a small part of their pathconstituting a change-over station, a leader bar having double jaws at each end for threading the strip: material about said rollers, means for operating the jaws releasing one belt and grasping the otherbelt at parallel runs of the belts between sections, a power driven auxiliary conveyohnormally at rest for the leader'bar for conveying it as the jaws are. changed from-one belt to another at the changeover station, and two.pivoted levers including arms projecting into the path of the leader being carried bypairs of belts, one adjacent each of the pair of belts, mechanismior the power drive of the supplementary. conveyor: releasable only when the two pivoted...levers are simultaneously engaged by the'endsuof the. leader bar whereby said conveyor 3 may move; d ba tion. Y 4:. In a; machine for handling strip material,

the co n i n th; a lura of. se t ns s a a plurality of rollers in each section over which the strip materialis looped, a pair oi spacedbelts for each section adjacent the path of strip Inaterial pass ha v r said. o ers.,t e e t ofso sectionlying adjacent to the'belts of another section through a small part of their path c0 n-.

stituting a change-over station, a leader bar hav-v v ing; double jaws at each end for threading, the stripjmaterial about said rollers, means for op-, erating the jaws releasing one belt and grasping, the other belt at parallel runs ofthe belts be-. tween sections, a-power driven auxiliary conveyor normally atjrest for the leader bar for; conveying it as he. aw r ha ed fro e bo t-to a other; at the, change-over station, and two pivjotedlevers; including arms projecting into the path o h a e ar bein r 'by." airs, of;

bar from the-belts, means for disconnecting the leaderbar fr m the belts. a; sup o en am on1. veyor separate from the beltsfor moving the leader barbetween the two sets; of belts at, the chahe w o us ion a d me s, or n oll ll the position of the leader ar adjacent the; sup-I plernentary conveyor therefor. v

6- n ama hin a li s r u mat r at. ecomb nation wit a p r li y of e t n ac having pairs or, conveyor belts, of a change-over sta o et een ec i n n inc u ingort pa a l uns o i hobo t of ne, e t on adja nt I a short parallel run of; the belts of the othersec t o a eade ba ..,mean r m n oad bar from;the belts, means for disconnecting, the l ad r ha from ho bo s P mh a yt P= veyoryseparate from the, belts for moving the lead r, bar betwe n t e w ets of b lts; atith han e-or at on an e qt on ro li la the p ition. r, he l ade bar a a en t e sun: plem ntat -po yo or io omp i in -r 51 ien me bers l n in t e Pa h f and adapted t en hole ar approa h? the change-over station; r

-.-I. a. ma ine fo ha dl n tr p matoma i oomb h tio w t a p u al ty of se tio sat hav r i s. of n o -b f a c an e-o er station between sections and includingjshort par-. allel runsof the belts of one section adjacent a short parallel run of the belts of the other section, a, l ader; a rm an o ovi t l ade bar trom. he be s, means oronn in t e leader'bar from the belts; a supplementary conveyor separate from the belts for moving the leader bar between the two, sets of belts at the change-over station andmeans for controlling the, position of the leader bar adjacent the supplementary conveyor therefor comprising movable equalizing levers mounted adjacent the par allel runs of the beltsv at thev change-over station, springs tending to move the levers into the path of the; ends of the leader bar, whereby an end past the change-over; sta

ment of an end of the leader bar.

8. In a machine for handling strip material,

the position of the leader bar adjacent the supplementary conveyor therefor comprising movableequalizing levers mounted adjacent the parallel runs of the belts at the change-over station, springs tending to move the levers into the path ofthe ends of the leader bar, whereby an end 'ofthe leader may engage and retard the movement of an end of the leader bar until the oppositeend thereof engages the opposite movable equalizing lever; i I V a '9; In a machine for handling strip material,

the combination with a plurality of sections each having pairs of conveyor belts, of a change-over station between sections and including short parallel runs of the belts of one section adjacent short parallel runs of the belts of the other section, a leader bar, means for moving the leader bar from the belts, means for disconnectingthe leader bar from the belts, a supplementary conveyor separate from the belts for moving the leader bar between the two sets of belts at the change-over station and means for controlling the position of the leader bar adjacent the supplementary conveyor therefor, a power drive for the supplementary leader conveyor, a pair of control members located adjacent the path of said conveyor and in seriesforreleasing the powerdrive when both control members are operated,- said leader bar engaging and releasing both controls when properly positioned by the means for controlling the position of the leader bar at the change-over station. 10.- In a machine for handling strip material, the combination with a plurality of sections each having pairs of conveyor belts, of a change-over station between sections and including short parallel runs of the beltsof onesection-adjacent short parallel runs of the belts of the other section, a leader bar, means for movingthe leader bar'from the belts including spring jaws frictionally grasping the belts, a leader bar restrainer including movably mounted members spring-pressed into the path of the leader bar near the jaws thereof and adapted to engage said leader bar near the jaw thereof as it is moved through its path and to cause said leader bar 1 to slip on said belt. 7 v 7 i 11. In a machine for handling strip material, the combination with a plurality of sections each having pairs of conveyor belts, of a change-over station between sections and including short parallel runs of the belts of one section adjacent short parallel runs of the belts of the other section, a leader bar, means for moving the leader bar from the belts including spring jaws frictionally grasping the belts, a leader bar restrainer including movably mounted members springe pressed into the path of the leader bar near the jaws thereof-and adapted to engagesaid leader bar near the jaw thereof as it is moved'through itsipath and to cause'said leader bar to slip on of the leader may engage and retard the move-' said belt and a-supplementary leader bar moving device adapted to engage said slipping-leader bar and move it against the spring/pressure of the leader barrestrainer. I I 4 l2. In a machine for handlingstrip material,

the combination'witha pluralityof sections each having pairs of conveyor belts, of achange-over station between sections'and .includingtshort par-: allel runs. of the belts of one section adjacent short parallel runs of the belts of the;other sec-l tion,-a leader .bar, means for moving the'leader jaws thereof and. adapted to engage said leader. bar near the jaw thereof as it is moved through its path and to'cause said leader bar to slip'on said belt and a supplementaryleader bar moving device adapted to engage said slipping leader bar and move it against thespring pressureof the; leader bar restrainer, the extent of move-' ment of 1 the supplementary, leader bar 1 moving device carrying said leader bar past the restraining members moving said membersagainst the. pressure of their springsaout of the paths of the 1 3. In a machine for handling strip material, the; combination with a plurality of section's'each' having pairs of conveyor belts, of a change-over station between sections and including short parallel runs of the belts of one-section, adjacent short-parallel runs of the belts of the other, section, a leader bar, means for moving-the-leader bar from the belts including spring-jaws frictionally grasping the belts,-a leader-bar restrain-t er including movablymounted members spring: pressed into the path of the leader bar near the jaws thereof and adapted-to'engage said leader bar'near the jaw thereofas itis moved through its path and to causeisaid-leader bar to-slipon said belt, a-source of power, a supplementary leader bar moving device operated by said; source of power, a control forthe source ofpower, and dual means simultaneously operated by therends of the leaderbar for releasing thev source; of power for moving the leader bar by'thesupple mentary leader bar moving device. f 1- 14. In a machine for handlingstrip material,

1 the combination with a plurality of sections each having pairs of conveyor belts, of axchange-over station between sections and including'shortparallel runs of the beltsof one-section adjacent shortparallel runs of the belts of the other section, a leader bar, means for moving'the leader bar from the belts, means for restraining the leader bar comprising resiliently mounted arms adaptedto engage the ends of the leader: bar and holdthe leader bar against movementpra power driven elevator, anda release for 'said elevator operable bythe ends of "the leader :bar operable only when the ends of the leader'bar are in a predetermined-position; wherebysaid elevatormaymove' said leader bar-past said ree straining members. '1

15, In a machine -;for :moving "a long strip'of materialrabouta plurality of rollers and comprising, more than one section," the combination with spaced belts defining approximately the path of strip material passing about the rollers, separate belts for each section, the beltsof 'onesectron having a short parallel run adjacent a portion of belts: of another section constituting a change-over station, a leader :bar for conducting material j being threaded around? the; rollers through the proper path, belt-engaging jaws'on each end of the leader, means included in the jaws for grasping the belts with a predetermined pressure, and leader bar restrainers positioned adjacent the belts and lying in the path of the leader bar ends, said restrainers being positioned in alignment at right angles to the belts near the change-over station, each restrainer being pressed by a spring into engagement with the advancing leader bar with sufiicient force to overcome the predetermined grasp of the leader bar jaws upon the belt, whereby said leader bar jaws may slip relative to the belts.

16. In a machine ,for moving a long strip of material about a plurality of rollers and comprising more than one section, the combination with spaced belts defining approximately the path of strip material passing about the rollers, separate belts for each section, the belts of one section having a short parallel run adjacent a portion of belts of another section constituting a change-over station, a leader bar for conducting material being threaded around the rollers through the proper path, belt engaging jaws on each end of theleader, means included in the jaws for grasping the belts with a predetermined pressure, and leader bar restrainers positioned adjacent the belts and lying in the path of the leader bar ends, said restrainers being positioned in alignment at right angles to the belts near the change-over station, each restrainer being pressed by a spring into engagementwith the advancing leader bar with sufiicient force to overcome the predetermined grasp of the leader bar jaws upon the belt, whereby said leader bar jaws may slip relative to the belts, a supplementary moving device for the leader bar, a motor drive therefor, a control for the motor drive adapted to operate the drive through a fixed cycle, dual members which, when simultaneously operated, release the motor drive to operate through the fixed cycle, said dual members being located adjacent and parallel to the restrainers, whereby said leader bar may contact with both of the dual members only when positioned at substantially right angles to the belts at which time said bar may be moved by the supplementary moving device for the motor drive.

JOHN G. JONES.

MALCOLM P. DAVIS. 

